An exhibit of oil paintings and oil pastels by artist Karen Bonanno, entitled A Seat at the Table, will be on view in the Jamie Gagarin Gallery at Oliver Wolcott Library from July 14 through Aug. 28.
An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, July 17, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The artist says of the exhibit:
In A Seat at the Table, I explore the power of human connection through gestural figures engaged in conversation and communion. Painted in a loose, expressive brush style, these figures emerge as both individuals and collective presences, grounded around the shared ritual of the table. The table acts as more than a domestic setting—it becomes a symbol of inclusion, dialogue, and belonging.
My process is intuitive and fluid, allowing the energy of each figure to surface through sweeping marks and softened forms. These gatherings are not portraits of specific people, but representations of shared experiences and unspoken exchanges. The gaps between figures, the tilt of a head, or the echo of a gesture suggest moments of listening, offering, remembering.
Through this work, I invite viewers to reflect on the tables in their own lives—those places where stories unfold, identities are affirmed, and community is built. Everyone has a seat at the table. This series celebrates the beauty of showing up and being seen.
Karen Bonanno was born in New York and grew up in Danbury. She attended Western Connecticut State University and later the Vermont Studio Center. Her work is influenced by the Bay Area Figurative artists and the New York Abstract Expressionists. She now lives and works in Litchfield County.
Oliver Wolcott Library is located at 160 South Street in Litchfield and is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days, but until 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, and until 2 p.m. on Saturday. The phone number is 860-567-8030.